Last night we gathered the hound and hiked over the hill to some friends’ home. Their poodle recently passed away, and Lucy was a little confused as she ran around house looking for her friend. But we gave her a bone and that kept her concentration focused as we had a pleasant dinner on the deck. Betsy had made bruschetta with my garlic scape pesto topped with white beans and pancetta, which we enjoyed with 2 pinks

2013 Chais St. Laurent Chinon roseNice cherry/berry flavors, but lacking in acid for a rose, and a bit short. B-/C+

NV Chidaine Touraine Brut RoseThis is an old favorite, but didn’t show quite as well as previous bottles. . It’s the last of last years shipment, and seemed less vibrant than the past. Drink up and buy the new batch. B-

Dinner was spareribs with lemon, rosemary and lemon, along with green beans and tomato as well as a salad

2004 Muga Rioja ReservaRed fruits, some tannin, oak pretty obvious but not as annoying as last time I had this. Good length, needs some leg of lamb, B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice.Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.